Coin operated electeio apparatus



(No Model.) 7 SheetsSheet. 1.

v J. S. WALLACE. 00m OPERATED ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

N0 423,361. Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

N4 PETERS. Fhawumo ranher. Washinglon, D, (L

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

v I J. s. WALLACE. COIN OPERATED ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet a. J. S. WALLACE.

GOIN OPERATED ELEOTRIOJAPPARATUS; No. 423,361. Patented'Mar. 11, 1899..

N. PETERS. PMo-Lhhognphol'. Washinginb. D. C.

(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

. J. S. WALLACE.

COIN OPERATED ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

No 423,361. Patented Mar, 11, 1890.

u. FUCHS. miwmmnpw. Wnhinm no (No Model.) I 7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

J. S. WALLACE. COIN OPERATED BLEUTRIG APPARATUS.

No; 423,361. Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

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- jl J fl 1 r E! n m 3 El 0 Q a a NO Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 6Q A J. S. WALLACE. COIN OPERATED ELECTRIC APPARATUS. No. 423,361. Patented Mar. 11,1890.

N PETERS. MUMOII'IPMY. Waklnlion, DIG.

' (No Model.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 7. J. S. WALLACE. COIN OPERATED ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

Patented Mar. 11, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN STEWART WALLACE, OF BELFAST, IRELAND.

COIN-OPERATED ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 423,361, dated March 11, 1890.

Application filed August 29, 1889. Serial No. 322,389.' (No model.)

An important feature of my said invention is the construction of the apparatus in such a manner that although the various parts may be operated by the turning of a handle a coin must be inserted before the electric current can be completed and electricity administered.

In the accom panyin g drawings I have shown 110w my said invention may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.

Figure 1 is a plan, part of the upper portion of the box or case being removed, and Fig."

2 is a front elevation, partlyinsection,showing one form or modification of my improved apparatus. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line no 0c, Fig. 1. Fig. l is a transverse section on theline y y, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line a z, Figs. 1 and 2. Fig.6 is a vertical longitudinal section, showing a detail of construction hereinafter described. Fig. 7 shows an enlarged detail view of the bell mechanism.

Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

A is the box or case of the apparatus.

A is a compartment provided in the said I box or case and intended to contain the cells of the battery. 7

B is the slot or slit for the, insertion of coins into the said apparatus.

0 is the coin-chute.

D is the induction or intensity coil.

E E are the external handles (one of which ismovable) for operating the apparatus, as hereinafter described. I

F is a frame carrying the mechanism and secured to the box or case A.

The induction or intensity coil D is preferably provided with a fixed iron core D having a brass tube D arranged to slide over the latter. One end of the said brass tube D projects outside the said induction or intensity coil and is coupled by means of a connecting-rod E to a crank E provided upon the stem E of the handle E, which is arranged to rotate freely in a suitable bearing provided in the frame F, so that on the said tion of electricity by the apparatus until acoin is inserted. On a coin or coins being dropped into the apparatus, the said' break or gap can be filled up by turning the handle E, and the primary circuit being thereby completed, the apparatus is set to work when the handle is turned and currents are produced in the secondary wirecircuit.

Provision is made for removing the coin when desired, orafter a given period, so as to again break the primary circuit and stop the working of the apparatus. For this purpose the lower extremity of the coin-chute O is formed with guide-pieces 0, adapted to retain a coin of the requisite dimensions edge- ,wise between a cam or eccentric a, fixed in anysuitable manner upon the extremity of the stem E of the movable handle E, and a piece I), hinged or pivoted at Z) to a suitable bracket 0, secured to the box or case A. The cam or eccentric CL and pivoted piece 11 are provided, respectively, with grooves c and 11 so as to retain the said coin edgewise between them.

a is an adjustable piece adapted to cause the said coin to be discharged from the grooves a and b and drop into a suitable receptacle (1, provided in the bottom of the box or case A,when the handle E has been rotated to the full or any other predetermined extent of its motion, so as to uncover the whole or any other desired portion of the core D, and thus administer the strongest current of which the apparatus is capable or which it may be desired to transmit.

b is a spring which tends to press the said pivoted piece I) against the coin, and thus retain the latter in the grooves a and b is a contact-spring which is connected to the primary circuit. Upon turning the handle E, and thus also rotating the cam or ec-. centric a, so as to press the coin against the pivoted piece I), the primary circuit is coinpleted by the contact between the said pivoted piece 6 and the contact-spring c.

c is a binding-post or terminal provided upon the above-mentioned contact-spring c,

for electrically connecting the said primary wire or conductor therewith. When the said handle E has been turned a certain distance, the adjustable stop or piece a forces the said coin to fall from the grooves a and b and drop into the receptacle cl.

In order to provide with certainty for releasing the coin when the said handle E has been rotated, so as to form contact between the pivoted piece I) and the contact-spring c, and to uncover the core D of the induction or intensity coil D to a greater or less extent, (but is not turned sufficiently far to bringthe stop or piece a? into 'operation,) and is returned to its original position, and to obviate any possibilityof the sticking of the said coin in the grooves a b when the said handle has been turned to its full extent, I provide a spring-piece e, secured to suitable brackets 6', attached tothe box or case A. Upon this spring-piece are provided teeth eiwith one or "the other of which is adapted to engage a knife-edge 17 provided upon the lower extremity of the pivoted piece I), when the latter is moved by the pressure of the coin on the turning of the cam or eccentric a. When the said handle E is returned to its original position by the action of the spring D and the cam or eccentric a is moved into such a position that its cut-away portion is brought opposite thesaid pivoted piece I), the latter is retained by the said tooth c and the coin is thus permitted to drop from the grooves a b into the receptacle d. In the action of falling the said coin hits or strikes against the projecting extremity of the said spring-piece c with suiiicient force to depress the latter and release the knife-edge b from the tooth 6 thus permitting the pivoted piece I) to resume itsnormal position under the action of the spring b e? is a piece of insulating material provided upon the extremity of the spring-piece e, and b is a piece of insulating material upon the rear of the knife-edge b f f are a peal of bells, which I sometimes provide for indicating to the person operating the apparatus the amount of the central core D of the induction or intensity coil D uncovered, and therefore the strength of the current transmitted as the ,handle E is turned, each bell being rung in succession for this purpose, in the manner hereinafter described. The said bells f are supported upon stems g, secured to a circular or are shaped piece h, supported in any suitable manner.

upon the frame F, and are provided with hammers or clappers 1 which are pivoted loosely at 1), Fig. 2, to the upper extremities of levers j, pivoted at j to extensions h upon the said circular or are shaped piece It. The lower extremities of the said levers j are provided with catch-pieces 9' with which is adapted to engage a pin or projection is, Fig. 3, provided upon the upper extremity of an arm or lever 71",, pivoted at k to the box or case A and arranged to be actuated uponturning the handle E, in the manner hereinafter described.

The catch-piecesj are pivoted at 7' to the lower extremities of the levers j in such a this purpose the said catch-pieces 7' areprovided with extensions j, adapted to bear against pins or studs 7' and thus render the said catch-pieces operative when struck in one direction, but permit them to turn upon their pivots 3' when struck in the other, and

thus remain inoperative.

j are springs for retaining the said catchpiecesj normallyin position, bearing against the said studs or pins 7' Z Zare springs adapted to'be compressed when the levers j are moved and which oper- IOO ate to forcibly return the said levers to their normal positions and cause the hammers or clappers 'L to strike against and ring or sound the said bells f. The catch-piece 7' of the first bell f, or that nearest to the inductionor; intensity coil D, is provided with a pin or ex-.

tension 7' Fig. 3, for the purpose hereinafter described, and the saidcatch-piece and spring 1 are dispensed with upon the extremity of the lever j of the last bell fiorthat farthest from the said induction or intensity coil.

A A are windows provided in the boxor case A, through which the said bells f can be seen from the exterior by the person operatingthe apparatus. A is a similar window, at which I provide for exhibiting successively representations of different flags or other matter during the operation of the said apparatus, as hereinafter described.

The pin or projection 70' is attached to a plate 10 provided upon the upper extremity of the armor lever is and secured thereon by means of set-screws k, which pass through slots is in the said plate W. The said slots is are formed of such a length that the plate 75 has a'certain amount of endwise play or motion, and'can be thus caused to rise or fall pin or projection 7t isadapted to strike againstthe lower extremities of the catches g and thus move the levers j, so as to compress the springs Z and cause the hammers or cla'ppers z'to strike against and sound or ring the bells f when the mechanism is operated, as hereinbefore mentioned. V

i k is a hook adapted to engage with the pin or projection 7' 'uponthe catch 3' of the first bell f.

' The arm or lever 75 is connectedto a collar 70 provided upon the tube D by means of a set-screw k passing through a slot It in the arm or lever is, so that when the said tube D is moved by turning the handleE the said arm or'lever 70 will be moved at the same time.

To prevent the bells f from being rung or sounded, should the handle E be turned without a coin of the requisite value having been previously insertedinto the apparatus, I provide a circular or are shaped guide m, pivoted at m to a bracket m attached to the circularor are shaped piece h.

m is a guide or support for steadying the movement of the circular or are shaped guide m, and m is a stop-piece for limiting the movement of the said circular or are shaped guide in. The extremity of the said circular or are shaped guide m is slightly turned upward, so that should an attempt be made to operate the apparatus without inserting a coin of the proper value therein, by turning the handle E the pin or projection It" will pass underneath the circular orarc shaped guide m'and the plate 7& be lowered by the compression of the spring 7c, so that the bells f will not be sounded or rung.

To permit the ringing orsoun'ding of the said bells when a coin of the proper value has been inserted into the apparatus, I provide uponthe circular or are shaped piece it anelectro-magnetn, the armature 0 of which is fixed to the guide on; The electro-magnet n is coupled up in the primary circuit, so that upon the insertion of a coin of the proper value into the apparatus, and the completion of the said primary circuit, by turning the handle E, as hereinbefore described, the said armature 0 Will be attracted to the poles of the electro-magnet n, and will thus pivot or move the guide 111 into such a positioh that upon operating the handle E the pin or projection will pass above the said circular or are shaped guide m'and successively ring or sound the bells f. The circularor are shaped guide m'is so arranged that when the coinis forced or drops out' from'the grooves a b and the primary circuit is broken'or interrupted by the return of the handle E and the pivoted piece I) to their normal positions reason of its Weight also return to its normal gradually uncovered.

osition. To obviate however, any chance of the said circular or are shaped guide at remaining in its highest position after the said primary circuit has been broken or in-' terrupted, I provide upon one extremity thereof an extension m againstwhich is adapted to bear the knife-edge 6 upon the return movement of the pivoted piece I), thus insuring the return of the said circular or are shaped guide toits normal position. In

order to combine strength and lightness, I

prefer to form the said guide on L-shaped in transverse section.

p is a quadrant or are secured to the arm or lever k, and having thereon representations of the flags of different nations or other suitable, matter, which are successively exhibited, at the window A when the handle E is turned. In some instances each of the as the said handle E is turned, and the core' D of the induction or intensity coil D is The side of the box or case A, carrying the frame F, supporting the mechanism, is preferably formed removable, so that the said mechanism" can be easily and expeditiously taken out for inspection or repairs, and the upper portion of the said box or case is hinged to the lower portion thereof, and is arranged to open for a like purpose, the coin-' or looks are provided for preventing thefunauthorized opening of the said box or case.

Fig. 6 illustrates a device which I provide for preventing fraud by the insertion of disks By opening the upper part of the requisite dimensions, but formed of lead'or other heavy metal." 0 is a piece piv- ITO oted at C to the coin-chute O and provided with a weighted arm or extension C said piece'O normally fills up or closes an aperture or gap provided in the bottom of the said coin-chute C, and is so arranged that a coin of the proper value will pass over the same; but a heavier article-such as a disk of lead or the likewill cause the said piece.

The

to pivot or move in the direction indicated by the arrows and permit the said disk to drop through the said aperture or gap in the said coin-chute Ginto the bottom of the box or case A, or into the receptacle d, provided, as beforestated,"in the bottom of the said box or case for the reception of coins.

The operation of the apparatus is as followsthatis'to say, a coin of the proper value and dimensions, having been inserted into the coin slit or aperture B, passes down the coin-chute O and drops, as before described, into the grooves a and Win the cam or eccentric a and pivoted piece b. Upon the handle E being turned slightly, the pivoted piece I) is moved by the said cam or eccentric a and coin and forms contact with the con i tact-spring 0', thus completing the primary circuit. The guide on is then moved by the action of the electro-magnet n, so as to permit the pin or projection to pass over the As the handle E is turned .each

said guide.

of the bells f is rung in succession, and the brass tube'D' is moved, so as to uncover more of the core D of the induction or intensity coil D. \Vhen the said handle E has been turned a predetermined distance, the

adjustable piece a causes the coin to leave or 1 drop from the said grooves a b andfall into the receptacle d in the bottom of the box or case A. Should the coin from any cause have a tendency to stick or remain in the said grooves after the handle E has been rotated,

so as to form contact between the pivoted piece I) and the contact-spring .c, and is returned to its normal position, the pivoted piece I) will be retained by the engagement of the knife-edge b with one or other of theteeth 6 upon the spring-piece e, and the coin will be released and drop from the said grooves and by striking against the extremity of the said spring-piece e depress the same, and thus release the pivoted piece I), which will resume its normal position under the action of the spring b as hereinbefore described.

The ringing of the peal of bells will indicate to the person operating the apparatus the amount of .the electric current that is being given off or transmitted as the core of 5 the induction or intensity coil is uncovered, each successive bell indicating an increase in the strength of the said current, and the entire peal that the strongestpossible current has been induced. As each bell is rung or sounded a different flag is exhibited at the window A Although I have hereinbefore described a; convenient and advantageous methodot carj rying my said invention into practice, it is obvious that I can somewhat modify the construction of my improved apparatus Without, however, inany way departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance, the bells or flags or other devices may be actuated either only when the coin is inserted or otherwise. Instead of striking one bell at a time,

I may arrange to strike two or more simultaneously. I may also provide some other musical device in lieu of bells.

What I claim is 1. In an apparatus for permitting the selfadministration of electric currents upon the insertion of a coin therein, the combination, with the induction-coil D, comprising core D and cover D of the movable handle E, hav-' ing a stem E provided with a crank 131*, and

the rod E connecting said crank with the cover of the induction-coil, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for permitting the selfadministration of electric currents upon the insertion of a coin therein, the combination, with the movable handle E and an inductioncoil provided with means,substantially 'as described, for varying the strength of the current, of a series or chime of bells f, provided with hammers or clappers t' and levers intermediate said hammers, and the movable :handle E, whereby when the handle is operated the bells will be successively sounded to indicate the increase in the strength of the current, substantially as described,

3. In an apparatus for permitting the selfadministration of electricity in return for a .coin inserted therein, the combination of the movable handle E, aninduction-coil provided with means, substantially as described, for varying the strength of the current, a series or chime of bells provided with hammers or clappers, levers connecting said handle with the induction-coil and bell-hammers, the adjustable guide or switch m, and an electromagnet controlling said guide or switch to permit the sounding of the bells when, but not until, the proper-coin is inserted and the handle operated, substantially as described.

4:. In an apparatus for permitting the selfadministration of electricity in returnfor. a

coin inserted therein, the combination, with a casing having a window or aperture, an induction-coil provided with means, substantially as described, for varying the strength of the current, and the movable handle E,

connected with said induction-coil, of the quadrant or are 13, connected with said handle and having thereon a series of flags .or

other designs, whereby when the handle is operated the quadrant will be caused to bring said flags or other designs in succession opposite the said window or aperture as the strength of the current is increased, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for permitting the selfadministration of electricity in return {for a coin inserted therein, the combination, with the movable handle E and induction-coil D, of means for completing the circuit after the insertion of said coin, comprising thecontactspring 0, the grooved camior eccentrica, and the grooved pivoted piece 19, adapted to form or make contact with the said contact-spring when the said movable handleis turned, substantiallyas described.

6. In an apparatus for permitting the selfadministration of electric currents in return hook, the circular or are shaped guide orsWit-ch, and the electro-magnets, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of the operating-handle having a stem provided with. a grooved cam or eccentric, a grooved pivoted piece having a knife-edge at its lower extremity, a toothed spring-piece, and a spring contactpiece, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

9. The combination of the operating-handie, the grooved cam or eccentric, the grooved pivoted piece, the contact-spring, the circular or are shaped piece carrying a chime or peal of bells, a pivoted lever or arm arranged to be operated by the said handle, the clappers or hammers, a pivoted guide, and an electromagnet, substantially as and for the purposes set forth. o

10. The combination, with the grooved cam or eccentric, the grooved pivoted piece I), the receptacle d, and the handle E, of the adjustable plate or piece a for discharging the coin from the grooves a b at any predetermined period of theoperation, substantially as described.

having a coin-aperture B and chute C, a battery located in said box, the induction-coil D, comprising core D and tube or cover D the handles E E, one of which is movable, the crank-arm 131* and rod E connecting the movable handle with the cover of the inductioncoil, the con tact-breaker D the spring D the grooved cam or eccentric a, connected with the movable handle, the grooved pivoted piece I), the contact-spring c, the bells f, having hammers t' and levers intermediate said hammers, and the movable handle, substantially as described. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN

Witnesses:

A. E. NIXON, A. H. SLEATH.

STEWART WALLACE. 

